Da Costa in for Savio
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have allowed Savio to leave for ACF Fiorentina with Manuel Da Costa heading to London
31.08.2009
West Ham United have sold Savio to ACF Fiorentina with the club receiving an undisclosed fee and Portuguese centre-back Manuel Da Costa in return from the UEFA Champions League contenders. Da Costa, 23, moves to the Boleyn Ground on a three-year contract after one season in Italy, having left Florence in January for a loan at their Serie A rivals UC Sampdoria. His home debut could come against Liverpool on Saturday 19 September, the team he played against for PSV Eindhoven in the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
The French-born defender first made his name with AS Nancy-Loraine before his high-profile switch to PSV. He promptly won the Dutch title in his first season in 2006/07 and was soon being courted by some of Europe's leading clubs before heading to Fiorentina. Capped 23 times at U21 level, Da Costa has twice been named in senior squads by Portugal.
Savio's departure will see the club retain 50 per cent of his sell-on value in future. The Germany Under-20 international arrived at the Boleyn Ground in January from Brescia Calcio for an undisclosed fee. The 20-year-old made eleven appearances - ten off the substitute's bench - but failed to establish himself in the side. The emergence of Junior Stanislas also limited Savio's chances.
West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury said: "This is a good deal for everyone concerned. Although not for the want of trying, Savio has struggled to make an impact for various reasons, while Manuel is also looking for a fresh start. We will continue to look at home and across Europe for the brightest prospects as they best fit our vision for this club's future. "Had our financial situation been different we would have preferred to have kept and developed Savio. However, we are required to make savings and our policy has always been to sell players on the fringes rather than established first-team players. With the fee we received for Savio and 50 per cent sell-on together with acquiring the highly-rated Da Costa, it represented a great deal."
West Ham have been busy in the transfer market this summer, signing the highly-regarded attack-minded Serie A players Luis Jimenez and Alessandro Diamanti from Internazionale and AS Livorno Calcio respectively. The club has also bought Herita Ilunga and Radoslav Kovac permanently after their successful loan deals last season and acquired the highly-rated trio Peter Kurucz, Fabio Daprela and Frank Nouble.
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Point pleases Green
WHUFC.com
Robert Green has praised the West Ham United defenders that helped keep Blackburn Rovers at bay
31.08.2009
Robert Green was happy with how West Ham United responded to the physical threat posed by Blackburn Rovers in Saturday's goalless draw at Ewood Park. Green was rarely troubled between the sticks, largely due to some dogged defending from the four players in claret in blue in front of him. West Ham had chances of their own but Green's fellow England goalkeeper Paul Robinson was not really called into action either. "It was a grind and there wasn't too much football played by either side," Green said. "We tried but failed. If we're not going to score then the best result we can get is a nil-nil draw which is what we got. "It was one of those games were you know what is coming at you and perhaps we were so focused on what was going to come that it took away from our positive work."
Matthew Upson and James Collins were particularly impressive in dealing with aerial threat posed by the towering figures of Christopher Samba and Charles Nzonzi. "You know what is coming and we know we can deal with it. We've got four guys at the back that are decent and can deal with things and they did so on Saturday."
With England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence in attendance, Green's clean sheet will no doubt have registered on Fabio Capello's radar as he gathers his thoughts ahead of games against Slovenia and Croatia. Green rebuffed the idea that he would have preferred more action with a view to impress the England manager. "I wouldn't really have wanted more chances as a clean sheet is a clean sheet. If you go into every game and keep a clean sheet then you're a pretty good keeper. If at the start of the game you would have said I'd keep a clean sheet I would have taken that. The point, West Ham United's 700th in the Premier League, takes the Hammers' tally for the season to four, a start Green believes is fair based on the team's performances thus far. "The Tottenham [game] was disappointing. It was a competitive game and one we thought that once we'd scored we'd go on to win. It really took the wind out of their sails when we scored and likewise when they scored it took the wind out of ours. "As disappointing as last week was we've probably played well in about one and a half games and got four points. We played well at Wolves and then well in patches against Spurs. Blackburn was tough but we thought we could have played better."
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola has praised his players for producing a 'mature' display at Blackburn Rovers
31.08.2009
Gianfranco Zola is looking forward to a quieter week at Chadwell Heath as the squad reflect on a win, loss and a draw in their opening three matches of the Barclays Premier League season.
With new forward Alessandro Diamanti and fit-again midfielder Valon Behrami both set to be fully involved but eleven senior players away on international duty, the manager will have to adjust his training preparations in the wake of the goalless draw at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. There is also the chance this week to run the rule over his promising youngsters in Tuesday night's opening match of the new Barclays Premier Reserve League campaign at Aston Villa.
Zola said: "We have a lot of players that are going to play with the national team. [The international break] will certainly not help them to relax but it will help those that are not going. No problem though, when they come back we are going to be ready for Wigan."
That return trip to the north-west on Saturday week will occupy the manager's thoughts entirely in the days ahead and certainly he is not fazed by things off the field - especially the transfer window. "We have had a lot of things going on but it has been like that since last year. We are going through all of these things and we are going to do good work."
The latest addition to the fold will help sharpen the focus for Wigan. "Diamanti is a good player," Zola said. "He has got a lot of talent. He is one of those players that can give us something different. I am looking forward to having him available for selection.
"He was very determined to come and play for West Ham and certainly the supporters have helped him make the decision. He is a player that can excite them and we are looking forward to having him on the pitch."
Looking back to the weekend, Zola believed his players were full-value for both the result, and a second consecutive Barclays Premier League clean-sheet on their travels. "It had been a long week with a lot of things going on, but I think we coped with it very well. I'm looking forward to the next few days when we can rest a little bit and be ready for the next game.
"I don't know if this is a game we would have lost in the past, but certainly we look very mature right now. It was a game that, for physical reasons, we could not give our best, but the players stood there strong on the pitch and didn't concede anything. So, it was a very mature performance.
"This was the third game we played in six days plus the Tuesday match was a very exhausting game, we played 120 minutes. It was tough and we found that in the second half when we dropped our performance. We defended very well though and managed to get a draw. I am happy."
With the domestic programme on hold, fan attention will of course remain on the transfer market, which will be a hive of activity ahead of the closure of the summer window. Monday's press was again full of rumour and speculation but the manager summed up that nothing would be fully known until deadline at 5pm on Tuesday. "We will see what happens," he said.
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Zola brings in defender Da Costa
BBC.co.uk
West Ham have signed Fiorentina's Portuguese defender Manuel da Costa in a swap deal that involves winger Savio Nsereko moving to the Serie A club. The 23-year-old Da Costa, who was born in France, played for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven before going to Fiorentina. He played just one game for Fiorentina, joining Sampdoria on loan in January.
Nsereko, 20, joined West Ham in January for reportedly a club record £9m fee, topping the £7.5m West Ham paid Liverpool for Craig Bellamy in 2007. When the Ugandan-born German signed for West Ham, the club said they had beaten off "fierce competition" to sign him. Nsereko was named player of the tournament at the 2008 Uefa Under-19 Championship in the Czech Republic, which was won by Germany. But he failed to live up to expectations during his time at Upton Park and failed to find the net in his 11 appearances. West Ham will receive 50% of any fee received by the Viola if they sell on Nsereko. "This is a good deal for everyone concerned," West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury told the club's website. "Although not for the want of trying, Savio has struggled to make an impact for various reasons, while Manuel is also looking for a fresh start.
"Had our financial situation been different we would have preferred to have kept and developed Savio."
Hammers technical director Gianluca Nani had worked with the Germany Under-19 international when he was at Brescia. Da Costa also endured a tough time last season having joined Fiorentina in January 2008. A former target for Inter Milan and Juventus, he made just one league appearance before being sent on a six-month loan to Sampdoria. The switch failed to turn round his fortunes and he made just three appearances during his spell in Genoa.
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Nsereko deal complete
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 31st August 2009
By: Staff Writer
Savio Nsereko has completed a permanent switch to Fiorentina - just six months after arriving at West Ham in a blaze of publicity. The Ugandan-born German under-19 international arrived in England during the January transfer window amidst rumours that he could cost United up to £9million (despite West Ham 's initial outlay being just a third of that). Having been given the number 10 shirt worn previously by the likes of fans' favourites Paolo Di Canio and Trevor Brooking, much was expected from a player who had been eyed by a number of top clubs. However his English dream is over after just seven months having failed to settle in London. West Ham have received an undisclosed transfer fee (thought to be worth around £3million) plus a 50 per cent sell on fee for Savio from the Serie A outfit plus defender Manuel Da Costa, who has signed a three-year contract with United.
Hammers CEO Scott Duxbury explained the decision to sell the youngster thusly: "This is a good deal for everyone concerned. Although not for the want of trying, Savio has struggled to make an impact for various reasons, while Manuel is also looking for a fresh start. We will continue to look at home and across Europe for the brightest prospects as they best fit our vision for this club's future. "Had our financial situation been different we would have preferred to have kept and developed Savio. However, we are required to make savings and our policy has always been to sell players on the fringes rather than established first-team players. "With the fee we received for Savio and 50 per cent sell-on together with acquiring the highly-rated Da Costa, it represented a great deal."
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One in one out
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 31st August 2009
By: A Different Staff Writer
West Ham are set to confirm the departure of Savio in a swap deal for Fiorentina's Manuel Da Costa. Savio has failed to settle since his arrival in January 2009 and has not featured in Gianfranco Zola's recent plans. The fee has not been disclosed but the club has confirmed that they will receive 50% of the player's sell-on value. Coming the other way is central defender Manuel da Costa. The French-born 23 year-old has been capped by the Portuguese U21 side. Though he has been picked for the full squad on two occasions, he has yet to play for the full side. Da Costa, who arrived in Florence from PSV Eindhoven, has been out of favour at Fiorentina and, like Savio has made few first team appearances in recent months. The arrival of Da Costa will increase the likelihood that one of either Matthew Upson or James Collins will be on their way over the next 24 hours. The club are believed to have received bids of £8m from Fiorentina for Upson, and £5m from Villa for James Collins. The Collins/Villa deal would appear to be the more likely at the moment, given that the alleged bid is closer to the Club's valuation of the player than the Fiorentina bid for Upson. Any funds released from such a sale may go towards boosting Zola's striking options.
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The waiting game
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 31st August 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United is still likely to make changes to the first team squad ahead of tomorrow's 5pm transfer deadline - although much depends on possible departures.
The Hammers, who were forced to turn to sponsors SBOBet in order to afford the fee for Allesandro Diamanti from Livorno last week remain in close contact with a number of potential targets although much depends on who the club can offload first.
Central defender James Collins, who was watched by both Martin O'Neill and David Moyes at the weekend and has an asking price of some £5million is still the hot favourite to depart although as of this morning, no firm bid from either Aston Villa or Everton has been forthcoming.
Rumours regarding an opening £8million bid from Fiorentina for Matthew Upson have now been confirmed although West Ham remain committed to not selling the England international leave for anything less than £15million. KUMB.com also understand that enquiries have been made for a number of other first team squad members although as with Upson and Collins, nothing has been concluded as of yet.
With regards to incoming transfers, the potential for adding a further striker to Gianfranco Zola's first team squad appears to be diminishing as following the arrival of Diamanti, any major signing is now dependent on the successful sale of existing player/s first.
One striker strongly linked with the Hammers in recent weeks - Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh - is understood to remain interested in a pre-deadline day move to the Boleyn, despite reports to the contrary emanating from France in the past few days. However fresh rumours regarding moves for Sunderland's Phil Bardsley and Valencia's giant striker Nicola Zigic are thought to be wide of the mark.
The Hammers are also thought to be keeping tabs on a number of defensive targets as replacements for possible departures, although any such arrivals are likely to be on a loan basis as opposed to permanent transfers.
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Viola confirm Hammers swap talks
Savio to swap with Da Costa
Last updated: 31st August 2009
SSN
Fiorentina have confirmed they are in talks with West Ham about a swap deal involving Manuel Da Costa and Savio. As revealed by skysports.com over the weekend, West Ham have lined up a swap deal for Portuguese defender Da Costa which will see striker Savio move in the opposite direction. West Ham are keen to bolster their defensive options with doubts surrounding the futures of James Collins and Matt Upson and Da Costa could help fill the void if either player leaves before the close of the transfer window. Savio has struggled to make an impact in England since joining West Ham from Brescia in January and the Hammers are prepared to let him return to Italy. Fiorentina sporting director Pantaleo Corvino confirmed the talks but said the deal has yet to be completed. "Da Costa is not yet of West Ham," said Corvino. "They asked for him and we have considered adding Savio in the negotiations, which could be seen as an investment for Fiorentina."
Meanwhile, Fiorentina have confirmed the transfer of midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic to Stuttgart on a permanent basis in a reported seven million euros (£6.15million) deal.
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Villa make Collins bid
Defender in O'Neill's sights
Last updated: 31st August 2009
SSN
Sky Sports sources understand Aston Villa have made a bid for West Ham defender James Collins. Collins' future at Upton Park has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks with the Welsh international holding talks with Stoke earlier this month. West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola revealed over the weekend Villa were interested in signing Collins and they have now firmed up their interest with an offer for the central defender. Villa chief Martin O'Neill has been searching for defensive reinforcements all summer after losing Martin Laursen and Zat Knight and he is hoping to bring in Collins to help bolster his ranks. The Hammers are resigned to losing Collins as the club look to trim their squad and the former Cardiff man seems set to depart Upton Park before the transfer window slams shut on Tuesday.
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20090831 Hammers snub Upson offer
Fiorentina fail in swoop for centre-half
Last updated: 31st August 2009
SSN
Sky Sports News understands that West Ham have turned down a bid from Fiorentina for Matthew Upson. The Serie A giants have been strongly linked with the centre-half of late and are believed to have made their move on Italian transfer deadline day. Much has been made of the financial turmoil at Upton Park in recent times, leading to speculation of imminent exits. Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola insists he is under no pressure to sell, though, and has made it clear that he will not be parting with key men. That includes England international Upson, who has hinted this summer that he would be prepared to take on a fresh challenge should the opportunity arise. A move to Fiorentina would offer him the chance to compete in the UEFA Champions League, but West Ham have snubbed the Viola's initial advance.
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Viola secure swap deal
Da Costa heads to Upton Park as Savio returns to Italy
Last updated: 31st August 2009
SSN
Fiorentina have announced that Manuel da Costa has joined West Ham United with forward Savio Nsereko heading in the opposite direction. Skysports.com revealed on Sunday that a deal involving the duo was in the offing before the close of the transfer window. And now the Serie A club have confirmed a swap agreement has been reached between the two sides. Savio, 20, has struggled to make an impact in England since joining the Hammers from Brescia for £9million in January. The addition of 23-year-old Da Costa, meanwhile, at Upton Park will serve as valuable defensive depth for the campaign ahead. "This is a good deal for everyone concerned," West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury told club's official website. "Although not for the want of trying, Savio has struggled to make an impact for various reasons, while Manuel is also looking for a fresh start. "We will continue to look at home and across Europe for the brightest prospects as they best fit our vision for this club's future. "Had our financial situation been different we would have preferred to have kept and developed Savio. "However, we are required to make savings and our policy has always been to sell players on the fringes rather than established first-team players. "With the fee we received for Savio and 50% sell-on together with acquiring the highly-rated Da Costa, it represented a great deal."
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Aston Villa's bid for West Ham defender Collins is accepted
Sep 1 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Post
Aston Villa are confident of completing the capture of James Collins before the transfer window closes this evening after having a bid accepted for the West Ham United central defender. Martin O'Neill is set to discuss personal terms with the Wales international today after a deal believe to be in the region of £5 million was agreed with Hammers counterpart Gianfranco Zola. The surprise swoop for 26-year-old Collins will not affect Villa's pursuit of Richard Dunne with O'Neill also optimistic of concluding the protracted signing of the Manchester City captain today. Newport-born Collins, who has been capped 30 times by Wales, made his name at Cardiff City before joining West Ham as part of a £3.5 million deal also including Daniel Gabbidon in 2005. Despite losing Martin Laursen and Zat Knight, O'Neill was only contemplating bringing in one central defender because he has faith in youth team graduates Ciaran Clark and Shane Lowry. Clark justified his manager's confidence with a fine debut in Sunday's home win against Fulham, while Lowry has made several impressive cameo appearances already this season. However, the ongoing shoulder problems of Curtis Davies, who is scheduled to see a specialist this week to ascertain if he requires an operation, have prompted O'Neill to recruit more cover. Currently, Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar is the only fit senior defender at the club.
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Gudjohnsen seals Monaco move
Reuters - Yesterday, 20:13
FourFourTwo
PARIS - Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen has joined Monaco from Barcelona on a two-year contract, the Ligue 1 club said on Monday. The 30-year-old, who joined the Spanish club in 2006 after six seasons at Chelsea, no longer played any part in Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola's plans. The much-travelled Gudjohnsen, who has also had spells at PSV Eindhoven and Bolton Wanderers, has moved for an undisclosed transfer fee, Monaco said on its website
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West Ham swap Savio for Da Costa
Reuters - Yesterday, 20:56
FourFourTwo
LONDON - West Ham United have swapped their Germany Under-20 forward Savio for Fiorentina's Portuguese centre-back Manuel Da Costa and an undisclosed fee. The Premier League club have signed former PSV Eindhoven and AS Nancy defender Da Costa, 23, on a three-year contract, they said on their website. The French-born defender has twice been named in the Portugal squad. The club will retain 50 percent of his sell-on value after the 20-year-old arrived at the Boleyn Ground in January from Brescia for an undisclosed fee. "Had our financial situation been different we would have preferred to have kept and developed Savio," said West Ham United chief executive Scott Duxbury.
"However, we are required to make savings and our policy has always been to sell players on the fringes rather than established first-team players. "With the fee we received for Savio and 50 percent sell-on together with acquiring the highly-rated Da Costa, it represented a great deal."
West Ham had already bought Serie A forwards Luis Jimenez and Alessandro Diamanti from Inter Milan and Livorno respectively in the transfer window. They have also permanently signed Congo left back Herita Ilunga from Toulouse and Spartak Moscow's Czech Republic midfielder Radoslav Kovac after successful loan deals.
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West Ham set to make Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh a Hammer
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 1:47 AM on 01st September 2009
Daily Mail
West Ham are racing to snap up highly-rated Bordeaux forward Marouane Chamakh. Clever negotiating by chief executive Scott Duxbury means a cut-price downpayment will secure the deal, but first West Ham have to sell. Defender James Collins will join Aston Villa and that will trigger the Chamakh purchase. Collins's departure has been covered by the arrival of Fiorentina's Portuguese defender Manuel Da Costa, which sees midfielder Savio move the opposite way and West Ham net £3million.
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Aston Villa close in on West Ham's £5m defender James Collins
Villa need defensive cover for sidelined Curtis Davies
Richard Dunne also set to sign for £6m
The Guardian, Monday 31 August 2009 Article history
Martin O'Neill has moved to compensate for the potential loss of Curtis Davies for three months with the £5m signing of West Ham United defender James Collins. The Aston Villa manager will conclude the transfer of the Wales international in the next 24 hours, along with a £6m move for Manchester City defender Richard Dunne to significantly strengthen his defensive options.
Davies will see a specialist in the next 24 hours and is expected to be advised to have surgery on a shoulder he has dislocated three times in the last 12 months. That would have left O'Neill with just one experienced central defender in Spaniard Carlos Cuéllar, following the retirement of Martin Laursen and the £3.5m sale of Zat Knight to Bolton Wanderers.
O'Neill has been determined to bring in defensive cover all season, but failed in a move for Thomas Vermaelen and lost out to Everton over Sylvain Distin. "I hope to do things before the transfer deadline. I will spend what I have available. There will not be a question of keeping anything back," said O'Neill. "The situation with Curtis highlights the area where we need to strengthen and we are working to do that."
O'Neill watched Collins against Spurs last eight days ago and the defender was also interesting Everton and Stoke City as West Ham made it clear they were prepared to sell to raise revenue at Upton Park. Collins held talks with Stoke manager Tony Pulis recently but was unable to agree personal terms over a move to the Britannia Stadium.
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West Ham apologise to Millwall over behaviour of director
Monday, 31 August 2009
By Toby Porter
SouthLondonToday.co.uk
WEST Ham's chief execuive has apologised to Millwall over the behaviour of one of their directors during the match between the sides last week. But Millwall Supporters Club don't mind what Gianluca Nani did - in fact they would like to see their own board do the same sort of thing.
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Millwall: no invite to Upton Park security meetings
The Times
Nick Szczepanik
Millwall claim that they were not consulted about security arrangements for their Carling Cup match against West Ham United last week, despite their extensive experience and expertise in dealing with potential hooliganism.
The Coca-Cola League One club contacted West Ham soon after the draw was made for the tie at Upton Park, at which a Millwall season ticket-holder was stabbed and 13 people arrested. However, they were told that decisions were being dictated by the police and were not invited to meetings of the safety advisory group, a body that includes representatives of the local authority, the emergency services and the Football Licensing Authority.
This was a departure from recent practice, in which representatives of both clubs had attended meetings before league matches in the Championship at the New Den and Upton Park. "We were never invited to any of the planning and preparation meetings at all this time," a Millwall source said.
Millwall officials had held a brainstorming session on Thursday, August 13, the morning after the draw was made, and came up with a number of suggestions, including an early kick-off, and the closing of pubs around Upton Park.
An early kick-off, at any time between 3pm and 5pm, would have affected the gate, but the absence of supporters unable to arrange time off work would have been counterbalanced to some extent by the school holidays, which would have allowed children to see the match.
Millwall also believe that crowd control would have been easier in daylight, and that excesses fuelled by all-day drinking would have been dramatically curbed. In the event, pubs were not closed, with The Queens, in Green Street, close to the stadium, a focus for trouble on the night.
The size of Millwall's ticket allocation was also, they believe, a factor in the trouble that occurred. The club requested 3,000 tickets, to be sold exclusively to season ticket-holders, even though Carling Cup regulations entitled them to 5,800. West Ham agreed to Millwall's request, but were overruled by police, who restricted the allocation to 1,500.
Many people who had been unable to buy tickets travelled anyway in expectation of buying from touts, with thousands milling around the streets close to the stadium, even though Underground stations closest to Upton Park had been closed — which Millwall would have advised against if consulted. According to Millwall, the stabbed fan — a retired fireman attending the match with nine family members — had got off a train three stations short of Upton Park and been misdirected into hostile territory.
Millwall had expressed their concerns about ticketing to the FA, the Football League and the Football Licensing Authority. As a result, a second meeting of the safety advisory group — again with Millwall not invited — decided that a further 800 tickets would be made available for visiting supporters.
Millwall were asked by the FA for an interim report by 5pm last Wednesday — the day after the match — and must submit a full report this week. However, they have still not been contacted for their observations either by West Ham or the police.
A West Ham spokesman said: "Investigations are continuing. West Ham United take all the issues around the game very seriously and will comment as and when appropriate."
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Aston Villa to sign West Ham's James Collins
James Collins will have a medical at Aston Villa on Tuesday ahead of a £5 million move before the transfer window closes at 5pm while his present club, West Ham United, are adamant that they will not sell Matthew Upson.
The Times
By Jason Burt, Deputy Football Correspondent
Published: 6:43PM BST 31 Aug 2009
On a busy day for West Ham the Premier League club sold Savio Nsereko to Fiorentina for £3 million. They will also receive 50 per cent of any sell-on for the German under-21 international who arrived at Upton Park in January, from Brescia, but has failed to make an impact.
In return West Ham have signed the Portuguese central defender Manuel Da Costa. The 23 year-old will replace Collins in the squad with James Tomkins expected to step up and become Upson's regular partner in central defence.
Telegraph player rater West Ham rejected an £8 million from Fiorentina for Upson on Sunday but continued negotiations with the Italian club after they also expressed an interest in Savio. The striker could have become West Ham's record signing – his fee was set to rise to £9 million had incentives and targets been met – but he has failed to make the first-team squad. It appears that West Ham have now pretty much recouped their initial outlay for Savio.
His reputation has remained intact in Italy while Da Costa, who has also played for PSV Eindhoven, has previously been included in the full Portugal squad. The move for Da Costa – who arrives for free – ends West Ham's interest in another Portuguese defender, Wolfsburg's Ricardo Costa who they had discussed taking on loan.
There has been interest in Upson throughout the summer with Villa, Manchester City and Everton also making inquiries for the 30-year-old England international while Liverpool met West Ham's £15 million asking price only for their bankers to pull the plug on the deal.
With the sale of Collins, a 26-year-old Welsh international, to Villa and Savio's departure, West Ham do not need to sell any more players and will reject any deadline-day offers for their captain should any be received.
West Ham have signed Alessandro Diamanti from Livorno for £6 million and remain in the market for taking another striker on loan before the window closes.
They remain interested in Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh but will not sign him this summer.
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West Ham sign Manuel Da Costa from Fiorentina as Savio Nsereko goes other way
West Ham have signed defender Manuel Da Costa from Fiorentina, who had a bid of £9 million for Matthew Upson rejected, while forward Savio Nsereko will move in the opposite direction to join the Italian side.
The Times
By Steve Wilson and agencies
Published: 5:59PM BST 31 Aug 2009
Fiorentina announced the completion of both deals this evening as the transfer window moved in to it's final 24 hours. Germany Under-21s international Savio returns to Italy just seven months after joining West Ham from Brescia for a fee of around £9 million. Premier League fixtures He struggled to make an impact in the Premier League, and West Ham will hope Portuguese centre-back Da Costa is better equipped to adapt to English football. West Ham will receive around £5 million in the deal. Manager Gianfranco Zola will face an anxious wait to see if Upson will remain at Upton park. Several other clubs have inquired about the central defender who covets Champions League football, something Fiorentina could offer this season, but they would have to dramatically improve their bid. The Upson offer was dismissed out of hand with Fiorentina, who are in Liverpool's Champions League group, making a bid that barely covers half the £15m valuation which has been put on the England international. West Ham remain in talks with Aston Villa who have expressed an interest in signing defender James Collins, who is available for £5m, before Tuesday's transfer deadline.
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